What is at least one song that, in its lyrics or chorus, makes you think of fictional characters? For me, one song that is like that is “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” by Lorrie Morgan; that makes me think of the Ramona Quimby book series by Beverly Cleary. The first stanza seems to reference Aunt Bea and Hobart; the second stanza reflects what Ramona Quimby went through over the course of most of the books. How does the second stanza do that?
First, Lorrie sings of having “oceans of tears to get through” (Ramona’s botched class report of having a hole chopped in her house, and then the part where she tore up Susan’s owl and felt bad about it, both from Ramona the Brave; that one also has her overreacting to a bad report card), then she talks of having “the weight of the world on my mind” (her father losing his job and being downsized, then Ramona trying to get him to quit smoking, from Ramona and Her Father; also the quarrel that her parents had in Ramona and Her Mother; the latter includes the part where she tries to run away); next, she speaks of having “mountains of memories to move” (one of those being the supposed pest that Ramona was when she was 4, from Beezus and Ramona), and finally she recalls “beating back the blows to my pride” (e.g. Ramona throwing up in class in Ramona Quimby, Age 8). She then said that she never knew what she was made of until the times got tough (like when Picky-Picky the cat died, and she and Beezus made up with each other over the cat’s burial; that was from Ramona Forever; also the entirety of the wedding scene).
So, as I said, what songs, if any, make you think of fictional characters?
The Who’s “Bad Men Behind Blue Eyes” always makes me think of Garak on Deep Space Nine.
That’s very interesting! How does it do that? (IOW, what lyrics, if any, reflect that character?)
I’ve never been sure if this was the inspiration, but “Where have all the Cowboys Gone” by Paula Cole seems to me that it could be sung by Francesca Johnson from The Bridges of Madison County.
Both women seem to have entered a marriage of convenience - the narrator of the song starts off with the thought that she would be happy to do anything thats expected of her as long as she is provided for, which she comes to resent over time. Francesca, IIRC, was a schoolteacher in Italy when she met an American GI and decided he might be her chance at a better life.
Not surprisingly, both women become disillusioned with marriage, resulting in the singer wishing for a fantasy cowboy Prince Charming to come rescue her from a nondescript life and apathetic husband, and Francesca, who had a nice enough life with her husband and children but spent it pining over a photographer who billed himself as the “last cowboy”. (:rolleyes:)
I actually went so far as to make a Martha Jones/Doctor Ten fanvid for Amanda Marshall’s song “Out of bounds”, because the connections hit me so hard. I’ll try not to quote too many of the lyrics, but here are a few of the connections that hit me out of the first verse with those characters and their adventures:
“Standing on the edge of time” - arrival at the far future end of the Universe.
“Playing out a reckless pantomime” - all the times they both assumed aliases and false identities, plus Martha’s own pretense that they’re just buds, that she’s not falling in love.
“Voices in my head I cannot hush” - the Doctor, when his memories have been locked up by the Chameleon arch.
Those are some great responses! Thanks for them. Another thing that makes me think of Ramona in that Lorrie Morgan song is the last part of the chorus; i.e. where she sings “It’s been a long, hard fall, but I’ll make it after all,” Ramona made it to her 10th birthday; unfortunately, that’s as far as the books have gotten, and I’m not sure if any more books will be written. I’d like for more to be written, though.
Steve Winwood’s “In the Light of Day” makes me think of Rorschach from Watchmen. The melody has that city-after-dark vibe to it, and the lyrics seem kinda vaguely related to the graphic novel.
There are a lot of country songs that remind me of Jonathan and Jennifer Hart; a few of the best include “Must Be Doin’ Something Right” (Billy Currington), “This Kiss” (Faith Hill), “What’s It To You” (Clay Walker), etc.
The song ‘London Calling’ by the Clash always makes me think of Peter Pan, especially the crowing part. I take it as a contrast of the dreams of youth and the realities of modern day.
That song actually reminds me of House.
“My dreams, they aren’t as empty as my conscience seems to be” seems to relate to the fact that just because he can be a manipulative ass doesn’t mean he is happy with loneliness.
“And if I swallow anything evil/put your fingers down my throat” is obvious.
“Billy Brown” by English pop singer Mika reminds me so much of Ennis del Mar.
“And while it was all going accordingly to plan/then Billy Brown fell in love with another man.”
K’s Choice’s “Not an Addict” made me think of Willow’s awkward “addicted to magic” phase, and awhile after, I saw a fan vid that mashed up those very things.
For some reason or other, I always thought that Patty Loveless sang about J.R. Ewing of “Dallas” when she sang “Blame It On Your Heart.” (I still do, as a matter of fact.)
Ken Ichijouji from the second season of Digimon for me. (It’s a fairly common connection in the fandom, apparently. Probably helps that Ken actually does have blue eyes.)